Can alcoholism skip generations

Answer 1

In a sense. The tendency to become alcoholic is inherited, but one does not become an alcoholic if one does not drink. Children of alcoholics may be teetotalers, not wanting to be like their parents. Their kids, however, not having had the awful experience of living with a drunk, may drink out of curiosity or rebellion. If the tendency has been passed to them genetically, they have a good chance of becoming alcoholics. Thus, the disease has "skipped" a generation, but only in the sense of not having become active.

There is also a possibility -- if not a probability -- that there is true genetic skipping involved, in the sense of dominant and recessive trait combinations. Not enough is yet known about the details of the genetics related to Alcoholism to be able to state that with certainty, but it would seem to be compatible with what we know about heredity in general.

Answer 2

Yes. There is evidence to suggest that alcoholism and drug addictions may be caused -- at least in part -- by genetics. That is, the addictive personality which so often leads to alcoholism/drug addiction may be hereditary.

If I remember correctly, studies have shown that 75% of alcoholics or drug addicts have at least one blood relative who is an alcoholic or drug addict.